PATSy: a multimedia distributed web-base resource for aphasiologists in research and education.

Abstract

This paper describes PATSy, a distributed, multimedia system designed to be a repository of patient cases and their test data. PATSy will initially consist of adult aphasia cases, though it can eventually accommodate test data from a variety of neurological and non-neurological adult and child cases. The genetic aspects of PATSy also allow it to accept test data from various disciplines. Authorized users will have passwords to allow them to access PATSy via the internet. The development of PATSy addresses several challenges in research and education. These include archiving data from rare and unusual cases, limiting loss of data, improving opportunities for data re-utilization by other researchers, and forging more direct and transparent links between research and education. Users will have access to raw test data of patients reported by researchers. Above all, the structure and design of PATSy is highly suited to case-based learning, though other methods of teaching are also accommodated.